The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science) Revised Edition

by Richard Dawkins (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0192880512

ISBN-10: 0192880519

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Series: Popular Science
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Revised edition (August 5, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0192880519
ISBN-13: 978-0192880512
Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 0.8 x 5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #116 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Genetics
- #486 in Books > Science & Math > Evolution
- #624 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Biology & Life Sciences

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4.3 out of 5 stars

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Top Customer Reviews

Essentials of life's story

ByStephen A. HainesHALL OF FAMEon March 4, 2001

Format: Paperback

Biodiversity is more than a buzzword for ecologists. Variation gives life its grandeur, and Richard Dawkins gives us a description of the workings of variation. Fortunately, with a sharp mind and sharper wit, he has the ability to deliver this portrayal so that nearly everyone can understand it. That's not to say this book is an easy read. Although he delivers his narration as if sitting with you in a quiet study, you may still need to review his words more than once. That's not a challenge or a chore, it's a pleasure.
Dawkins, unlike other science writers, is forthright in declaring his advocacy in writing this book. It's a refreshing start to his most serious effort. After publication of The Selfish Gene led to a storm of fatuous criticism, Extended Phenotype comes in response with more detail of how the gene manifests itself in the organism and its environment. It's clear that Dawkins' critics, who label him an "Ultra-Darwinist" [whatever that is] haven't read this book. His critics frequently argue that The Selfish Gene doesn't operate in a vacuum, but must deal within some kind of environment, from an individual cell to global scenarios. Dawkins deftly responds to critics in describing how genes rely on their environment for successful replication. If the replication doesn't survive in the environment it finds itself, then it, and perhaps its species, will die out.
The child's favourite question, "why" is difficult enough for parents and teachers to answer. Yet, as thinking humans we've become trained to deal with that question nearly every context. So well drilled that we consider something for which that question has no answer to be suspicious if not insidious. Part of Dawkins presentation here reiterates that there is no "why" to either the process of evolution nor its results. It isn't predictable, inevitable or reasonable. It's a tough situation to cope with, but Dawkins describes the mechanism with such precision and clarity, we readily understand "how" if not "why" evolution works. We comprehend because Dawkins does such an outstanding job in presenting its mechanics.
This edition carries three fine finales: Dawkins well thought out bibliography, a glossary, and most prized, indeed, an Afterword by Daniel C. Dennett. If any defense of this book is needed, Dennett is a peerless champion for the task. Dennett's capabilities in logical argument are superbly expressed here. As he's done elsewhere {Darwin's Dangerous Idea], Dennett mourns the lack of orginality and logic among Dawkins' critics. Excepting the more obstinate ones, these seem to be falling by the wayside. It's almost worthwhile reading Dennett's brief essay before starting Dawkins. It would be a gift to readers beyond measure if these two ever collaborated on a book.

11 comment 161 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Very Good, also very difficult

ByOmer Belskyon July 8, 2002

Format: Paperback

Richard Dawkins is one of the most interesting popular science writers working today, and usually his books are filled with insight and perception about evolution (and other topics), written in clear and effective prose. This book is different from most of Dawkins's books, as it targets biologists rather than laypeople, and so it is a much more frustrating and difficult reading for such readers.
Frankly, if you are, like me, a lay person, don't read this book before reading other books by Dawkins, most notably The Selfish Gene, but also other stuff by him. I doubt I would have understood this book had it been my introduction to Dawkins's ideas. The glossary, though helpful, is far from complete and rarely detailed enough.
But for all this, The Extended Phenotype is richer in observations and ideas then any other book by Dawkins I have ever read. Dawkins says this is his best book, and you can see that he has a point.
The book has three main themes. The first is discussion of left over issues from The Selfish Gene, answering criticism and elaborating on the ideas in that book. The second is clarifying some issues in discussion of evolution, such as replicators and vehicles, fitness, etc. The third one, and the one for which Dawkins is most proud is his 'Extended Phenotype' - the concept that genes operate on the enviornment, and that the body (the individual organism) is a link in the chain of orders passing from DNA to the external phenotype - beaver dams or host behaviour that helps the parasite, or any other activity that helps the genes.
Frankly, the concept of the extended phenotype is best explained in the chapter about 'The Long reach of the gene' in the new (1989) edition of 'The Selfish Gene'. The book is actually best when Dawkins deals with the two other themes -difining genes for example, and discussing replicators. Those chapters are masterworks of clear, essential thinking, of which Dawkins is always a champion.
Finally, one would wish that the book was updated. Many discussions are based on information that at the time was brand new, and follow up would be useful. uinfortunately, Dunnet's afterword does not do the trick, and is more of a hymn to Dawkins (albeit a justified one) than anything else.
'The Extended Phenotype' is not an easy read, but it is definetly worth it.

11 comment 104 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Dawkins does get it.

ByJohn Carteron February 15, 2003

Format: Paperback

One of the reviewers here claims that Dawkins doesn't get that evolution doesn't see individual genes, but only individual organisms. This person isn't getting Dawkins!! Dawkins is saying individuals are a products of complex genetic interplay and that the influence of genes (singly or in groups) can extend outside the individual. The individual-centric viewpoint is only a viewpoint.
In fact individuals are NOT selected by natural selection (all humans that have ever lived so far have eventually died!) GENES are selected -- albeit in groups since they reside together in an individual (this is their mini-environment)--though not permanently since recombination ensures genes will be shuffled regularly into new, though similar, micro-environments. My grandfathers genes live on -- though my grandfather is dead. Dawkins is repsenting a different viewpoint on GENETIC selection as he explains in the preface of the book. And it is a brilliant viewpoint. Genes have an influence on the world, that includes both the characterisitics and behaviors of individual organisms in which they reside as well as the behavior of organisms and artiftacts outside that individual. Really one of the great books in evolution.
Let me put it another way--Is a physicits wrong when he claims the desk I sit at is mostly empty space? Sure looks solid to me, I say. But at the micro-level the desk is indeed mostly empty space and if neurtrinos could talk they would surely attest to this fact. One has to open one's mind to see that Dawkin's gene-centric perspective is as valid as the old-fasioned model and indeed leads to new insights and illuminations. That's thw whole point of him presenting this view after all!!! Isn't that waht good theory is supposed to do?

11 comment 68 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Five Stars

this book is rad.

Published 2 months ago by handleless

Brilliant idea but with a lot of old material

Dawkins is obviously a gifted author at explaining difficult scientific material to a lay audience. Moreover, the extended phenotype is, in the judgment of a reader with little...Read more

Published 4 months ago by Aran Joseph Canes

Fascinating

Very fascinating book, sequel to the selfish gene. I Found the book informative it will change your perspective on evolutionary biology.

Published 5 months ago by l

This is Dawkin's best book and is really his only book that contains ...

This is Dawkin's best book and is really his only book that contains any original science. It's his only book that isn't merely a popularization of the ideas of George C.Read more

Published 6 months ago by Joe Ward

Four Stars

Great read!

Published 6 months ago by Eddie Sanchez

Another great Richard Dawkins book

Richard Dawkins does it again-- a thought provoking book that, like so many of his, begs to change your paradigms about life and how we understand it.

Published 8 months ago by newbie

Brilliant book as expected

Brilliant book as expected. However Dawkins spent an exceedingly large amount of time defending the gene replicator theory.Read more

Published 1 year ago by BR

Five Stars

Great book, in perfect condition. Dawkins has a way with explaining genetics

Published 1 year ago by fistus rectumus

An eye-opener to anyone interested in evolution

That's quite impressive, it even somewhat changed my way of looking at the world surrounding me. Dawkins writes about this book: "It doesn't matter if you never read anything...Read more

Published 1 year ago by Gerd Badur

Boring

I have read, and greatly enjoyed, several of Dawkins's books, including The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, The Greatest Show on Earth, and The Magic of...Read more

Published 1 year ago by Naturalist

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